FitsPlug v2.0
 A FITS plugin for all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Adobe Photoshop for Windows

FITS is a file format originally defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to store and interchange astronomical data between scientific organizations. Learn more FITS at the NRAO FITS Archive

FITS has become popular among amateur astronomers because most if not all CCD camera control and Image Processing software support it and is a convenient way of passing images between supporting applications and platforms.

The Fits Plugin was first developed in 1997 and made available and supported free of charge until 2003. The free version is now Shareware V0.20SBeta and is still available for free download (below), but is not supported and will not be updated.

Fitsplug V2.0 has been specifically written for Photoshop CS4 and has some additions over Fitsplug V1.0, supporting the same features with the addition of true 32-bit HDR image loading and images with greater than 30,000 columns and/or rows.
Fitsplug V2 is delivered with both a 32-bit and 64-bit version for use with Photoshop CS4 and supports loading of uncompressed mono or RGB, 8, 16 and 32-bit integer and floating-point FITS files, with FIT, FTS and FITS extensions,  Fitsplug Saves and Exports 8, 16 and 32-bit mono and RGB FITS images from any loaded image regardless of the original image type. 

Read the online documentation if you would like to know more about the V2 plugin features or pricing details.

Ordering Fitsplug

Existing registered Fitsplug V1 purchasers can receive V2 at the special upgrade price of USD$30 by clicking the V1 to V2 Upgrade button below. This is a special offer and significant discount, to show my appreciation for your support!

To qualify for an upgrade, you must be a registered Fitsplug V1 user, having purchased Fitsplug any time between 2003 and 2009.

Order a single UPGRADE licence covering both FitsPlug V1 and V2 by Credit Card via PayPal.  

Order a single licence covering both FitsPlug V1 and V2 by Credit Card via PayPal. 
USD$30 Delivered by email.
USD$50 Delivered by email.

Paypal orders do not require a PayPal account. When clicking either of the "Buy Now" buttons above, you will be greeted with a Paypal page that allows you to either login to your Paypal account, or pay through Paypal without a Paypal account. Anyone can now use Paypal without having to register. 

Problems Using the "Buy Now" buttons ? - You can send USD$30 for upgrades or USD$50 for new Fitsplug users directly from Paypal to eddiet@astroshed.com

Or please email me now to arrange alternative payment or shipping methods.

Read about discount rates for multiple copies and site licences here. 

Orders will be emailed as a 30 kilobyte zip file within two days of payment authorisation unless alternative shipping methods have been arranged.

Versions

Fitsplug Version 2 is for Photoshop CS4 and later only. Version 1 is still the FITS plugin to use for all previous versions of Photoshop. Note that Fitsplug V1 does not support 32-bit HDR images, loading 32-bit images scaled to 16-bit.

Installation

Upon receipt of a payment notification, a zip file will be emailed to your Paypal return email address. Save a copy of the zip file on your harddrive and keep the email with the zip file attachment in a reference email folder.

Extract the zip file to your harddrive and you will see the following files:

cs4\64\fitsplug2.8bi
cs4\32\fitsplug2.8bi
other\32\fitsplug.8bi

Installing Fitsplug is simply a matter of copying these files into the appropriate Photoshop plugins folder.

For example,
If you are using 64-bit Photoshop CS4, then
Copy cs4\64\fitsplug2.8bi file into C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4 (64 Bit)\Plug-ins\File Formats\

For 32-bit Photoshop CS4
Copy cs4\32\fitsplug2.8bi into C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Plug-ins\File Formats\

For all other versions of Photoshop
Copy other\32\fitsplug.8bi into C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop x.x\Plug-ins\File Formats\

Replace "C:" in the above examples with the actual drive letter that your "Program Files" folder exists in.

Note: Either of the 32-bit fits plugins can be installed under 32-bit CS4. If fitsplug2.8bi is installed, then 32-bit images will load as 32-bit HDR images. If fitsplug.8bi is installed, then 32-bit images will load scaled to 16-bit as per original Fitsplug.

Support


If there is a problem with the plugin not being recognised by Photoshop at any time after installation, please ensure the following as a first line of troubleshooting:

1 - The correct 64-bit or 32-bit version of the plugin has been installed under the correct version of Photoshop as per the installation instructions.

2 - As Photoshop always installs both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of itself under a 64-bit Operating System, install both versions of the plugin to the appropriate Photoshop version so it will be available to Photoshop regardless of which version is run.

3 - Ensure that you keep Photoshop up to date. There is an option under the Help menu in Photoshop to check for updates.

4 - As with Fitsplug V1, the Fitsplug V2 purchase price includes full and direct email support for the life of the version, (which turned out to be 7 years for V1). If you have any problems at all with the plugin, or when loading specific images, I will be available by email to sort out the problem, modifying the plugin if needed and releasing a fix in the shortest time possible.


Note: New features and extended functionality are not included as support, however I am willing to discuss anything that any user may suggest along these lines with the possibility of inclusion in a future update.

64-bit TechNote from Adobe


Read this interesting 64-bit TechNote from Adobe.


Shareware Final Beta FitsPlug V0.20SB

The Final Beta V0.20SB is still available for free download but is now shareware.

Being Shareware means that the plugin is free to download, share and use, but if you find it useful and wish to continue using it, then you are urged to purchase the plugin and get the fully featured latest version along with support and free upgrades for the life of the current version.

Click here to download the Shareware FitsPlug V0.20SBeta (22-May-2004 : 19K) for Photoshop versions 4 to 8

Click here to Download FitsPlug V0.1.1 (17-Apr-97 : 8.2K) for Photoshop V3.x

The zip file contains a readme file with installation instructions, version and shareware information as well as other details that should be known if you intend to use the plugin.

Read the V0.20SB release notes now if you like.

V1.70 is the latest release version of the Fits Plugin.

V0.20SB is the latest Beta version

from


The Tin Shed Observatory.

Eddie Trimarchi

 

Click Here!